Take Off

Of all the rapid-fire, frantic gum-chewing, prayer-thought-pleas we've had during airplane takeoffs, we've never once wondered, "What forces of physics and other sciences allow this giant hunk of metal and many, many hunks of humans and all their bulging suitcases to take flight?" Or even, "What inspired the Wright brothers to invent their flying machine instead of hanging out in Kitty Hawk trying to score chicks?" If we had, our musings would be answered at the new home of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The facility, which resembles an airplane hangar, includes exhibits from the early days of aviation to modern space travel, with special sections on early flyers, balloon flight, aircraft from both World Wars, Love Field, Braniff Airline, X-planes and more. Besides exhibits to read and examine, there are artifacts (pieces from the Hindenburg, a World War I Sopwith Pup), demonstrations (a full-scale replica of the Wright Flyer, a simulated walk on the moon) and an education center for kids preschool to high school to learn about aviation through Jay Jay the Jet Plane activities for the wee ones and rocket-launching and film-watching for the older kids. The hangar also includes full-size airplanes and helicopters, plus, on loan from the National Air and Space Museum, the Apollo 7 Command Module. The Frontiers of Flight Museum is at Love Field Airport near Lemmon Avenue and Mockingbird Lane. It opens June 5 and will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for kids 3 to 17 and free for kids 2 and under. Call 214-350-3600 or visit www.flightmuseum.com. --Shannon Sutlief

Prisoner's Release 6/3

We have a scarf of wine and goldenrod stripes that for the third time we will unseasonally don in homage to a certain young wizard. See, having read every book, seen every movie and anxiously awaited the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on June 4, we are proud, serious Potter geeks (although much of our anticipation involves Gary Oldman as our favorite character, Sirius Black. Purrr!). And don't think there aren't others, some decades younger and some years older, who are ready to celebrate the new release. Barnes & Noble (801 W. 15th St. in Plano) aims to satisfy with a little day-before shindig featuring golden snitch making, trivia (just try us), a special chapter reading and more. The magic begins Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Call 972-422-3372. --Merritt Martin

Just Eat It 6/4 There are films that are a perfect fit for the Dinner and a Movie format: timpano and Big Night, pepperoni pie and Mystic Pizza, chow mein and Chungking Express, quail necks and turtle soup and Babette's Feast. There are some that would be a stretch: hamburgers and American Graffiti, milk shakes and Pulp Fiction, convenience-store snacks and Reality Bites. But then there's the Grapevine Heritage Foundation's selection for its June event: Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, which seems to have no connection to food other than the characters are human and require it. But at the Palace Arts Center, 300 S. Main St., at 6 p.m., Moscow will be paired with Russian food prepared by J. Beth Gourmet. Tickets are $20 for the three courses and a movie. Call 817-410-3100. --Shannon Sutlief

Monkey See

6/5

We know why you want to go to the zoo. Forget family fun and education about nature: You want to watch the monkeys do it. Or the rhinos. You'd settle for any mammal love, really, and we're cool with that, so head to the Dallas Zoo for its Summer Fun Weekend and the normal ticket price will fetch a few extras. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, visitors can learn from zookeepers and try exercises that let them "be" the animals (minus lifetime confinement, anyway). From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, the zoo features live music, celebrity impersonators and bounce houses. As in, those jumping pits for kids, not the place where monkeys...you know. Entry is $8 for adults and $5 for kids. Call 214-670-5656. --Sam Machkovech